Life off the grid in the SW Texas desert. An experiment in sustainable living. NUMBERS AT THE END OF EACH BLOG POST: temp at 8PM,high temp,low temp,rainfall,wind conditions(CalmBreezyWindyGusty). YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFieldLab
Daily live streams at https://www.youtube.com/thefieldlab/live

Saturday, September 10, 2011

a load off my mind...

Hmmm....food wise - in 9 months I have created 4 bags of trash and 16 bags of recyclables....that almost sounds sustainable. Felt good to unload. Made the usual rounds in Alpine and stocked up on essentials.

In part of my cleaning frenzy yesterday, I discovered bugs in lots of food stuff in the cabinets under my kitchen counter. Until I find some deals on bug proof jars - Ziploc bags outta keep them out. 86,101,63,0,B

Or, if your food supply critters are those that turn into little moths, and often hatch out in flour, pasta, beans, etc. after you buy them, then try something like these: http://www.gardeners.com/Meal-Moth-Trap/IndoorPestControl_Cat,32-599,default,cp.htmlJust little pherome bait traps...I use them, and ditto, no commercial interest.

I think Carolyn is right. I do what my mother taught me. Corn meal, flour, dried beans, some spices, etc. get put in the freezer for 24 hours when first brought in the house. Then put into glass containers with good seals for non-refrigerated storage. I think Weevils are the biggest concern with cornmeal and flour. I learned the hard way on spices. I opened a bottle of crushed red peppers that was new and still sealed, a moth flew out. Turns out a moth set eggs on some of the pepper at some point and they hatched and ate the seeds, then spun cocoons. One managed to survive, the rest were dead.

So zap them in the freezer for 24 hours and they just become more protein. If most people knew how many bugs we eat on a daily basis most would probably just quit eating.

Also be sure to wrap the stuff in a towel or something when taking it out of the freezer so it slowly gets back to room temperature without a lot of sweating.

JW, I've heard of, and am trying (successfully at the moment) placing a sprig of bay leaves in my flour / rice / pasta containers. It's said to keep the critters out, and seems to be working for me. Replace the sprig every 3- 4 months. And I grow my bay leaf tree in a container - have for years :)

If you can get used icing or syrup buckets they have less objectionable odor so long as nothing ever soured in them. I agree with the Gamma lid comment. If you are storing for longer term (months or years, not weeks) then look at food grade Oxygen Absorbers. They can actually cause a mild vacuum in a tightly sealed container. An example of what is available:

Bugs are bad enough but rodents are the real problem living out in the country. We used to keep everything we could in steel containers with locking containers or glass jars. Potatoes were kept in steel mesh basket with a heavy lid on it.

I use a food saver with plastic canisters and vacuum sealed tops with good results, but occasionally the seal will decrease. You could also vacuum seal the products and store them in the freezer in more "bite size" food saver plastic bags (they are reuseable).

Here is some information I found on the internet:

Control of All Stored Food Pests:

Inspection and identification of all potential food sources is essential to controlling the infestation. Control requires locating and discarding all infested items. Do not overlook intact boxes or containers because many insects can chew their way into cardboard and foil.

Infested items can be thrown away or salvaged by freezing three to four days. Food can be heated in a 140ºF oven for an hour with the same result. Empty and thoroughly vacuum cupboards or shelves holding infested items, paying particular attention to cracks and corners. Vacuuming picks up hiding insects and spilled or infested material. Empty the vacuum cleaner or discard the vacuum cleaner bag after use to prevent reinfestation.

Do not use insecticides for controlling these or other insects in pantry areas. Washing shelves with detergent, bleach, ammonia or disinfectants will not have any effect on these pests since these insects lay their eggs on suitable food. Removing infested items and thoroughly cleaning with a vacuum is usually sufficient. As a precaution against reinfestation, store susceptible foods in tightly sealed glass, metal or heavy plastic containers or in the refrigerator or freezer.

If insects continue to appear, go through stored items again, also check other rooms in the home for possible sources. Tree seeds blown into ventilators or around windows may harbor these pests. Dermestids (carpet beetles) can develop in many products such as feathers, silk, wool, fur, stuffed animal skins, dead insects, lint and many other materials. If insect problems persist, seek assistance from a pest control professional.

Full text is at http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/pantrypests304.shtml

DE, JW will kill those pesky critters. You can intersperse it in the food, sprinkle it in your cabinets and around your house. As long as it stays dry it will last forever. Nontoxic all natural. You can eat it.Just make sure it is food grade DE not the stuff they sell at swimming pool supplies for filters.Bad for bugs only. Won't harm you or your pets. Food grade diatomaceous earth will take care of your bugs.